Jurist Rights group urges Georgia to stop gender-based violence against women protesters

[Dadparvar]

Amnesty International reported on Friday that women participating in protests against the government in Georgia have been subjected to intimidation, harassment, and gender-based physical and psychological violence by state authorities.

In addition to searches of detained protestors, the rights group stated there has been a growing tendency of arbitrary house and office searches, stop-and-search practices by the police, and examinations of individuals’ clothes. Amnesty International noted that women taking part in public demonstrations are especially at risk of facing gender-based violence, including sexist insults, threats of sexual violence, and unlawful and degrading strip searches.

Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director Denis Krivosheev stated:

The authorities may have hoped that by targeting women with threats of sexual violence, raids in their homes, unlawful strip searches, and arbitrary detention, they would crush the spirit of resistance, deter protesters from further gatherings, and silence them. Instead, women in Georgia have risen more boldly, denouncing the abuse, demanding justice and turning repressions into resistance and defiance.

The organization said the conduct constitutes violations of international human rights law, including the prohibition against torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Additionally, the UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (Bangkok Rules) set out standards for conducting searches of women prisoners. Beyond international standards, Georgian domestic legislation guarantees the rights to privacy and the freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, as well as the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment under the Georgian Constitution.

Amnesty International urged Georgian authorities to fully comply with the international human rights standards and carry out prompt, effective, impartial, and independent investigations into all allegations of verbal abuse, threats, and physical violence by police.

There has been an increase in anti-government protests in Georgia over the past year following the parliament’s approval of a draft “foreign agents” law in May 2024, which critics claim undermines the freedoms of expression and association. More protests also broke out after the controversial October 2024 parliamentary election and a decision in November by newly elected Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to suspend membership negotiations with the EU until 2028.

Multiple rights groups have since condemned the government’s treatment of the protesters and the opposition. In December, EU and US leaders also denounced the crackdown on opposition activists and the decline of human rights in the country.

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